Of new bedford



' (No Model.)

- I EYELBT.

J.0.RHODES.

N0..565,091. Patented Aug. 4, 1896.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

EYELET.

CDQW v SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,091, dated August 4, 1896.

Application filed August 22, 1896. Serial No. 560,162- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN G.RHODES, of New Bedford, county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Eyelets,of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to flanged metal eyelets used in connection with the manufacture of boots, shoes, and for other purposes.

My invention is especially adapted to flanged eyelets having the face-flange rolled over to form a suitable facing for the eyelet when set. Prior to my invention eyelets of this type have been formed with a tubular shank or body with. the face flange or lip simply rounded or rolled outwardly and resting at its edge against the leather when the fastening is set. After the eyelets are formed they are usually covered witha coating of japan or other-pigment to presentasmooth and finished appearance. In practice, however, when setting such eyelets the face flange or lip yields or changes its form under the action of the setting instruments to such extent as would crack a hard thick coat of japan or covering material, making it necessary to use a thin and very elastic coating, so thin, in fact, that in practice the said coating soon wears through to the metal of the eyelet, which, if of brass, as is usually the case, leaves a bright spot or ring at the face of the eyelet, making the same conspicuous and objectionable. To avoid this difficulty, it is now common to pro 'vide eyelets with a cap of celluloid or other equivalent material. attached to the face flange of sufficient thickness to hold its shape in. setting, but such eyelets are expensive and objectionable in other ways.

The object of this present invention is to construct an eyelet of the class referred to in such a manner as will obviate the springing or yielding of the face flange or lip referred to, to thereby enable a sufficiently thick and hard surface coating of japan or other pigment to be employed without danger of cracking or breaking the same during the setting operation. This object I attain by providing the face-flange with a downturned peripheral portion having a stiffening lip, preferably continuous and preferably turned inwardly beneath or within the face-flange, such stiffening lip acting in practice to stiffen and prevent any yield or movement of the faceiiange during the setting operation.

In the drawings, Figure l, on an enlarged scale, is a vertical section of an eyelet e1nbodying my invention. Fig. 1" is a transverse section on the line m, Fig. 1; Fig. 2, top and sectional views, respectively, of a blank from which an eyelet is made embodying my present invention; and Figs. 3, 4, and 5, similar views illustrating different steps in the method by which my improved eyelet is preferably constructed.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 2, the blank there shown consists of a tubular body at, having a usual face-flange b, the said tubular body being closed at its end 01.. Such a blank is substantially such as is used at the present time in the formation of eyelets with a curved flange, the face-flange h in the completed eyelet being usually rolled or rounded slightly more than is there shown. The edge of the face-fiange b may now be turned, as shown in Fig. I next in suitable dies turn preferably under or inwardly the lip or edge of the face-flange b, to form thereby a pressurereceiving and stiffening lip a. (See Fig. 4.) The closed end of the body Ct is then punctured and opened or swaged, and preferably the small end of the tubular body is longitudinally scored, as at c, Fig. 1, forming the completed eyelet, which is then covered with a suitable coating of japan or other usual covering material. At the inner end of the tube of the body I have provided one or more, preferably a plurality, of longitudinal lines of weakness, herein shown as formed by longitudinal scorings, but which may be grooved or cut in any other way. These scorings or lines of weakness enable the setting of the eyelet to be accomplished with less pressure, and also cause the eyelet to hold more firmly than it would otherwise.

The auxiliary or additional strengthening flange orlip described strengthens or stiflens the face-flange and receives the pressure to such an extent that the latter will not change its form or yield to the thrust of said pressure during the operation of setting the eye let, thereby enabling me to apply to the fastenor as thick and as hard a surface coating IOC ' d as may be necessary to stand the usual use required Without Wearin g through to the surface of the metal eyelet proper.

lVhile I have shown my invention in connection with a usual eyelet, my said invention is equally applicable to any eyelet or fastener which is provided with a face-flange, which for the best results should be stiffened to preserve its form without substantial movement or yield during the setting operation. The additional stiffening and pressure-receiving lip referred to also prevents cutting the leather, as by the usually sharp edge of the face-flange.

WVhile I have found the method described an excellent one for the production of my novel eyelet and fastener, yet my invention is not limited to such method alone.

I claim-- 1. An eyelet, consisting of a tubular body, rolled outwardly and over at one end, to form a flange, presenting Within the same a smooth flaring entrance, the peripheral edge of the said flange being turned or bent abruptly at an angle to form a ring-like seat-lip outside the body and adapted to rest upon the material in which the eyelet is set, to thereby re ceive the setting-pressure and stiffen the eyelet-flange to prevent cracking of its surface or finishing coating, said eyelet also having a plurality of lines of Weakness at its clenching end, substantially as described.

2. An eyelet consisting of a tubular body, open at both ends and provided at one end with an outwardly-flaring face-flange having its outer or peripheral portion turned down- Wardly outside the body, said downwardlyturned portion seating upon the face of the material and provided with a laterally bent or turned strengthening-lip outside the body to hold the eyelet-face in proper form against the setting thrust and thereby prevent cracking of a hard surface coating, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

- JOHN C. RHODES.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN A. BATES, ISAAC W. GILES. 

